Demise of a gym rat

I joined a gym about 5 years ago. It was not a rash decision. Back in my poverty stricken days, the monthly RM150 fee feels like a four figure sum to me. But after careful consideration of my exploding waistline and the sight of hunky men at the weights room, I gave in and handed my piggy bank to Fitness First.

Boy, was I enthusiastic!

I think I got back a whole lot more than what I paid for. I was working out four times a week excluding times when I drop by for a quick shower or to rent videos. I was on first name basis with the staffs and gay patrons. I would wake up at 6am in the morning twice weekly to attend Pump classes, have breakfast with my class instructor, then head to work. Usually after work, I would be found at the gym again pounding on the treadmill or pumping weights.

Being a regular has its benefits. Not only are you guaranteed a good rush of adrenaline each trip, it does wonders for your social life as well. It's a great ice-breaker - there were various work/social occasions (outside the gym) where strangers have came up to me and said that recognised me from the gym. Everytime I work out, I would bump into sisters from Liquid, clubbing friends I met from raves, other lawyers - it's a great happy hardworking family. After our workout, we often venture out for dinner or drinks to celebrate our fit forms.

In fact, Fitness First has presented me with a ‘Gift of Appreciation’ once – for being one of their most frequent patron!

Anyhow, those are good memories I gathered from my gym-going experience. Why I am reminded to write this down is because this whole gym thing has gone pete tong for me. The last time I dragged myself to a gym was two days ago and it was the most horrible feeling ever (I walked out after ten minutes!)

I've changed gyms since I relocated. Although it is now right downstairs from where I work, that short journey is the longest I've ever travelled; making the decision whether to go in the first place taking the longest time!

It is not because I have lost interest in staying fit but rather I have lost the motivation to attain that goal from a commercialised gym. Somehow, it just doesn't appeal to me anymore to sweat and grunt in an enclosed comfortable air-conditioned environment using state of the art machines and surrounded by beautiful people in designer sportswear. In fact, it has become increasingly stressful.

Each time I work on the treadmill, some Ah Lian next to me would be wanting to check out what is my speed so that she can top that. When I am working on the weights, some beefed up muscle merry would be grunting and making obscene noises. When I want to attend a class, I would have to queue up way ahead of time together with the rest of the aunties, and then having to run in to 'chop' (reserve) and fight for the necessary equipments.

Stress!

Maybe it is just this new gym. Maybe it is this new country. Maybe it is really just me - that all these scenerios exists too back in KL but I was such a gym rat then, I was oblivious. . Or maybe I have been outdoors so much in the past year and breathing in fresh crisp air - whatever it is, gymming is just not right for me anymore.

Such a sad realisation. Now I guess I have to wear my swanky gold-lined missy elliot designed adidas velvet workout pants to clubbing instead. Hee hee...

should I go? should I not go? should I go?